Extend disc golf season with a glowing competition

By David Rowley

The metallic sound of hitting the links is like music in a quiet park on a brisk autumn day for a few passionate players This isn’t your grandfather’s neatly manicured golf course. This is where the woods meets the meadow. This is disc golf.

To get the obvious out of the way, disc golf is exactly what it sounds like: traditional golf that replaces the ball and clubs with Frisbees. The sport first gained momentum in the 1970s, and these days, courses can be found almost anywhere — central Iowa has five — with players ranging from children to seniors.

While some might think it’s a little late in the year for an 18-hole disc golf tournament, Jay Greenwood sees it as the perfect time to change up the routine with a tournament. A representative from Nomad Disc Golf of Columbia, Mo., will be among those in attendance.

“They have a product, which will enable us to light up the disc golf baskets for the glow round,” said Greenwood, organizer of the event and active treasurer for the Des Moines Disc Golf Club (DMDGC). “We are having this event later in the year, as it gets dark earlier, so we can play glow disc earlier than 8 or 9 p.m.”

Players will receive two flat LED lights to attach to their golf discs in order to prevent them from being lost in the dark, too, Greenwood said.

But folks will have plenty of time to get their accuracy in order during the first round of the tournament. Starting at noon, everyone will play the 18-hole course. After the points are tallied, the best scores (lowest score, like traditional golf) will be in the top flight (pro), next would be in the B-flight and then the C-flight. So, if 60 people attend, it will be split 20-20-20.

“The event, The Des Moines Glow, is a fun, low-key event that we promote to our members, local league players and their friends,” Greenwood said. “We use money that we raise to improve disc golf courses in the Des Moines area.”

Considered one of Iowa’s more demanding courses by the DMDGC, well placed control shots are rewarded, but strokes can be gained from the many tempting windows up and over the tree lines. This true risk/reward course offers a variety of tight, well-defined fairways that will challenge even the best player to stay on course.

“Big Creek is a demanding course due to the fairways being tight and wooded, requiring some pinpoint accuracy” Greenwood said. “This time of year, however, the ‘rough’ is a bit more forgiving than it is in July.” CV

David Rowley is an Iowa native with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Iowa and a master’s in film journalism from the University of Glasgow in Scotland.

The Des Moines Glow Disc Golf TourneyWhen: Saturday, Nov. 9, at noonSchedule: Sign-up are from10-11:30 a.m.; first-round is at 12 p.m.; lunch and adult beverages are from 3-5:30 p.m.; second (glow) round is at 6 p.m.Cost: $25, which covers some trophies, food, glow necklaces and two flat LED lights (more lights will be for sale, three for $5) if you need more). Players will bring their own beverages and are encouraged to bring a side dish. Other activities will take place during lunch. If you have a bags setup, bring it.